What are some rules that we must follow from the old testament?

Question

I know some rules don't apply anymore, but what are some rules we must follow? We as in Christians. I started from the old testament so i'm pretty much learning what pre-Christians know. I haven't even read up to Christ.

sorry but their sins have to be covered by blood. Their messiah hasn't paid the ultimate sacrafice. How can they be running around in sin?

Answer 1

I John 5:3 says that God wants us to keep His commandments. One of the reasons is that the Law shows us what is actually sin. Rom. 4:15 says, ". . . where there is no law, neither is there violation" and Rom. 5:13 says, ". . . sin is not imputed when there is no law."

But the Bible also says: Rom. 6:14 ". . . you are not under law, but under grace;" John 1:17 ". . . the law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ;" I Cor. 9:21 ". . . not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ . . . ."

It seems to sound as if we are both under the law, and not under the law, all at the same time. Jesus clears it up a little with His statement, "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law of the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill."

But the most helpful piece of information lies in determining the difference between the types of Jewish laws and commandments. The law was given specifically to Israel but its foundation is on the eternal moral principles that are consistent with God's character. It was given by God to expose His Holy nature and will as a righteous standard, as well as to convict sinners of their inability to keep the law. And if you can't keep the law, it proved you needed a Messiah/Saviour (Rom. 3:20).

There are basically three types of Old Testament laws: Civil (government), ceremonial (pointing to a Messiah/fulfilled by Christ/veil torn/new priesthood), and moral laws. Today, of all the Old Testament law given to Israel, only about 6 percent can be applied outside the State of Israel. Combining that fact with what Jesus fulfilled on the cross, it basically eliminates all the civil and ceremonial laws leaving us to deal with God's moral laws.

The moral laws show God's eternal and unchangeable wisdom and justice -- showing right from wrong. They taught who God is and what He requires. The bottom line is that the moral laws have no relationship to time or place as the civil and ceremonial laws did. So when the Bible says, "I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man" (Rom. 7:22), it's referring to God's moral laws.

The first question to be answered is, to whom did the moral law apply. Was it just Israel? Or, could people violate God's moral law before the 10 Commandments were given? If so, then it is much easier to understand how God's moral laws could apply to us today if they apply to ALL people throughout time.

The answer is yes. Pre-10 commandments people were held accountable for God's laws (Rom. 1:19, 2:15). Pharaoh broke the first three commandments -- false gods, false worship, and blasphemy (Ex. 20:3-7) and was punished (Ex. 5-7). Jacob broke the second commandment when he failed to put away foreign gods (Gen. 35:2). Israel broke the fourth commandment before Sinai (Ex. 16:27-29). Noah's son Ham broke the fifth commandment (Ex. 20:12). Cain broke the sixth commandment by murdering Able (Ex. 20:13). The sin at Sodom broke the seventh commandment (Gen. 19:24). The eighth commandment was broken by Adam and Eve when they took the forbidden fruit (Gen. 2:16-17). Cain broke the ninth commandment when he lied (Gen. 4:9). Abimelech coveted Abraham's wife (Gen. 20:3), breaking the tenth commandment. These are just a few examples of sins prior to the law even being giving. Therefore, if the Ten Commandments were God's standard prior to the Law being given at Sinai, they certainly could apply after the time period of Law, and certainly today.

Christians have always been free to enjoy all God's created good (I Tim. 4:1-5), PROVIDED they don't violate God's moral law or hinder their own, or someone elses, spiritual well being (I Cor.12-13, 8:7-13). So Christians have not been set free from God's moral law.

Gal. 5:13 "You were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh . . ."

But don't get freedom confused. The penalty for breaking God's moral law is just as severe today as it was in the Old Testament. The wages of sin is still death. The difference is that the penalty is paid by Jesus, on our behalf.

With that background, the answer to your question is to use the New Testament as your guide. Nine of the Ten Commandments are repeated in the New Testament. Only worship on the Sabbath (Saturday) is not specifically taught (though the principal of resting after six days' work IS taught). Jesus expanded the law to include not only WHAT you do, but included what you THINK as well.

Matt. 5:27 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery;' but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart."

Jesus was showing that the law was spiritual, not just physical. It was the heart that mattered, not just external actions.

Mark 7:20-21 ". . . That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts . . ."

The moral law says adultery is wrong. In the OT, the penalties were clear. But in the NT, adultery is still wrong, but forgiveness is paramount (even though you may pay a civil or government penalty in your country):

Eph. 4:32 ". . . forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you."

Rom. 13:10 ". . . love therefore is the fulfillment of the law."

Does this mean we can do away with the Old Testament? Hardly! It still has tremendous applications for Christians today, and the history of the world is recorded by it. The books of wisdom (Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon and Ecclesiastes) are rich in instruction as Godly wisdom is eternal and never changes. The prophetic books are crucial to PROVING the accuracy of the Bible.

The law can't save you (Gal. 2:21). But we will be judged according to its righteous standard as it applies to us (I Cor. 3:13-15).

Answer 2

The only thing we have to obey in the Old Testament is the Ten Commandants and keeping the Sabbath Holy. Once Jesus came and died for our sins, all of the old law was replaced with the New Testament. There is still a lot to learn from the Old Testament. I know this can be confusing but keep reading and praying God will open up doors of wisdom that you never knew were there. Read my new Book. "This Generation of Unbelief", on Google, Amazon and etc. I believe this book will help you understand Bible Prophecies and how to be a child of God.

Answer 3

First off, in response to various other answerers, there is only ONE Law, the Law of God. Not two separate Laws one from Christ and one from the Father. There is only ONE Law giver {James 4:12 and others}. There is also Biblical evidence that Christ is the One who spoke to Moses and gave him the Law [Hebrews 3:3 and others}. There is absolutely no evidence that Yashua rescinded the Law He gave at Siani.

Are we under grace, yes of course, but why do we NEED that grace? {Romans 3:20, 8:7 and others} And does grace negate the Law? {Romans 3:31,6:1}.

The Law of Love? Came from Leviticus. Get a Bible progam people! Do word searches. Read what the Bible plainly says. Here's a link to a free program:

http://www.onlinebible.net/

Prove these things for yourselves!

OK.

It think it is fantastic that you are reading the "Old" Testament first. So many professing Christians do not ever bother to really read and study the "Old" Testament except maybe to proof text some pet doctrine. It makes it next to impossible for them to truly understand the context of the "New" Testament. Study well, study closely. Remember what David says in

Psalm 111:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever."

The Jews count 613 Laws in the Tanakh (Old Testament), mostly in the Torah, or first 5 books. According to no less authority than Yashua the Messiah (the one most call "Jesus"), He did not want one pronounciation or puntuation mark in that Law changed (jot or tittle in the KJV):

Matthew 5:17 Let there be no thought that I have come to put an end to the law or the prophets.
{This is the opposite what traditional Churches teach} I have not come for destruction, but to make complete. {Or magnify or make honorable or more fully explain}
18 Truly I say to you, Till heaven and earth come to an end, not the smallest letter or part of a letter will in any way be taken from the law, till all things are done.
(Please look outside, the heaven and earth are still there! All things obviously are not done yet, or we would not have the book of Revelations.)
19 Whoever then goes against the smallest of these laws {Remember that there are at least 613! This is not just the 10 Commandments.} , teaching men to do the same, will be named least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who keeps the laws, TEACHING OTHERS TO KEEP THEM, will be named great in the kingdom of heaven. (BBE)

If Yashua the Christ did not mean what He said here, then He was a liar and not our Savior. Traditional churches insist on calling Him a liar, and teach the exact opposite what HE taught.

This is just one section of the Christian scriptures that impose lawkeeping on believers of the Messiah. There are many more.

In Revelations God plainly identifies His Church:
Revelations 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

And just in case some did not get the message, He caused it to be restated:

Re 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

The second verse to always remember, the one that sums up all that God wants from us:

Eccleseastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Answer 4

In a nutshell, Christ fulfilled the word and today we live under grace. Old testament people of God lived under the Mosaic Law (10 Commandments).
All that is required today is to acknowledge we have sinned and need an atonement for our sin. Jesus is our atonement and all we have to do is confess we have sinned, repent of our sins, and accept Jesus as our Saviour. Afterward, each and every time we make a mistake, we must confess it and repent and God will forgive us. Believe Jesus is Son of God and your Saviour with your mind, confess him as Saviour with your lips, and trust God to meet all your needs. It is just that simple. Also, there are examples of Christ all through the old testament such as manna the Israelites ate in the wilderness, Noah's Ark, Shadrach, Mechach, and Abedego saw a figure in the firey furnace like the Son of Man, just to name three examples. Keep the faith and know you are loved!

Answer 5

Do not be like the world. God had many rules on how the Jews were to even look. They were to be distinct in EVERY way. We should stand out as christians.

Another lesson from the "old law" is this: How impossible and miserable it would be to rely on ourselves following the letter of the law for our own salvation. We would never measure up.

Answer 6

The person with the long answer is clueless.

We may well see divisions of the law regarding moral, ceremonial, etc. etc. but it is still one law; a covenant law to which Christians were never a part of or a party to.

You can no more be held to that law than be bound to another whom you are not married to; a marriage covenant. And Paul uses the marriage covenant in Romans 7 to explain this.

Christian's righteousness is from faith.

The guide for a Christian is the Holy Spirit, and not a set of rules or laws.

Love fulfills the law; keeping the law is not fulfilling it. Keeping the law or laws is merely complying with them. If one refrains from murder, but there is hatred in their heart, then they are still guilty before God. Hatred is the spirit of murder.

The law was added to make sin utterly sinful, and even to entice people to sin.

For one to claim a Christian needs to "keep" even what are called moral laws gains no favor with God. You truly must love God with your whole being, and others as yourself, including those who you consider to be your enemies.

And this level of love comes from God through His Holy Spirit shed on the heart of the believer. No man can produce this love of and by himself.

Answer 7

One of the Pharisees (men who were known for knowing the law),trying to trick Him, asked Jesus which of the commandments was the most important.
Jesus told him to love the Lord your God with all your heart,with all your soul and with all your mind. He then said the second most important commandment is like that,to love your neighbour as yourself.
If you keep these 2 commandments,everything else falls into place.

Answer 8

The old testament rules are many but I think some of the most important , to Honor,Obey, and Trust God.

Answer 9

Jesus states; love the Lord thy God and love your neighbor
as yourself, in this you will fulfill the whole law. Just think
about it, if you love your neighbor as your self you wouldn't
do anything evil to them. We are in the church dispensation.
This is from when Christ rose and ascended until the Rapture
of the church. We are the bride of Christ, study the books
written by Paul in the NT. Bless you.

Answer 10

You are to obey the 10 commanments that were in the Old Testement.